Dog UTI Home Remedies: What Works And What Doesn’t?

If your dog is begging to be let out all the time to pee, she could be having a bladder infection, also known as urine infection or UTI. Dogs with UTI need to pee all the time. They might whimper while urinating and show other signs of distress as well. Most produce very little urine at a time. Canine UTIs are common in both male and female dogs but females tend to suffer more from them owing to their shorter urethras. If you are wondering what to give a dog with urine infection, read on- we have tons of home remedies for treating dog UTIs.

Clinical signs: dog UTI symptoms

Following are the symptoms of urine infections in dogs:

Straining to urinate; taking longer than usual to urinate

Arching the back or body to indicate pain

Hiding and refusing food

Frequent urination

Dark, bloody urine

Excess licking of genitals

What can you give a dog for urinary tract infection?

Dog utis, when caught early, are easy to treat. Most vets prescribe antibiotics like Amoxicillin to be administered over the period of 2 weeks. Dog uti antibiotics must always be given in complete doses; failure to do so will cause recurrence of the uti symptoms. If you are not comfortable giving antibiotics to your pet, you can give your pet some dog cranberry pills. Note that cranberry supplements are more preventive than curative; they will protect your dog against potential UTIs but might not cure existing infections.

Here are some other natural home remedies for dog urine infections:

· Keep her comfortable

Allow the pet to rest as the body heals during the rest period. Allow at least 7 days for the dog to heal. In the mean time, provide the dog with frequent toilet breaks. If she urinates inside the home, do not scold her. If you are away at work, have a pet sitter or neighbor help you let her out for toilet breaks. Urination is essential to flush the bacteria out. So, take the pet out on long walks, if she is up to it. Explore the neighborhood and allow her to ‘go’ several times. The more she urinates; the cleaner her urinary tract will get.

· Add Apple cider vinegar to her drinking water

One of the best dog UTI home remedies is apple cider vinegar. Add organic, raw apple cider vinegar to the pet’s drinking water twice a day. Vinegar helps create an acidic environment to kill E.coli bacteria causing the UTI.

· Feed her some lemon juice

This remedy works in the same manner as dog uti home remedies with apple cider vinegar. Adding some lemon juice in the pet’s drinking water will balance the ph of her body while keeping the urine acidic. This will discourage the growth of bacteria. Lemon juice is also known to prevent pain and burning during urination. If the dog refuses to drink the juice straight, mix it with some food, chicken broth, rice etc.

· Give her more water to drink

Always keep a steady supply of fresh water for your pet so she can drink small quantities frequently. If your pet is fussy about drinking water, add some chicken stock to it. You can also add stock to the pet’s kibble, rice etc. This will help her urinate more and keep the urinary tract healthy.

Herbal and natural home remedies for dog UTIs

There are many herbal and all-natural UTI remedies that are proven to work on dog UTIs. These are:

UVA Ursi

Cranberry extracts

Vitamin C- to boost immunity

Juniper berry extracts

Echinacea

Berberis vulgaris

Goldenrod

Grapefruit seed extract

Always source these from reputed vendors. Make sure they are wild harvested. If you are using herbal extracts-always select cold pressed varieties. Check with an herbalist as to which potency is the best for your dog’s UTI symptoms.

Review of the best natural UTI products for DOG UTIs

Following products are known to work effectively on canine urinary infections, kidney stones and even cystitis:

UroMaxx– This product has received fabulous reviews as it has prevented and treated UTIs in dogs and cats of all sizes and breeds. It contains Cranberry extracts and glucosamine and helps strengthen the urinary tract lining.

PetAlive– This is an all-natural homeopathic formula which can prevent, cure and treat utis in dogs and cats. You need to give 6 pellets every half an hour in the first days until symptoms ease. Then continue dosing the pet with this as preventive remedy for utis in dogs and cats.

Dog UTI antibiotics can lead to many side effects. Not only are they expensive, they do not cure the sickness from their root. Many of the home remedies given above can help resolve painful urinary infections in dogs and also prevent their recurrence.